The Alaska Fitness Expo (AFX) is the premier multi-sport expo of the Pacific Northwest. Where else can you ahng out with the like of Kai Greene and Goerge Farrah, while getting in a high level weightlifting competition. In many ways, the AFX is much like the Arnold, though on a more intimate level — its an event jam packed with every strength sport involving a barbell– Olympic Weightlifting, CrossFit, Powerlifting, StrongMan as well as feature an NPC bodybuilding, fitness, and physique competition The NPC competition is always emceed by a world renowend body builder and features a guest poser.

Risto Sports will be a title sponsor of the weightlifting competition. The competition will feature prize money as well as guest competitors. You can get international wieghtlifting experience, win some cash, then chill out with the best of the strength sports world all in one day. The competitors also receive high quality competitor bags. Teh whole weekend will also feature seminars for several of the sports, including a Soviet System seminar by Risto Sports and Kendrick Farris’s Bless the Gym seminar.

Even better, its much cheaper to fly to the AFX in Anchorage, AK in the fall than it is to many other places where Olympic lifting international level meets are held. Anchorage is also quite beautiful and still warm in October– you might even get a free show by the Northern Lights.

This Saturday and Sunday, watch Risto Sports’ all star team compete at the Arnold.

Coach Ivan Rojas and Dr Herrera will be present with our A Team competing:
Diego Salazar, Olympic Silver Medalist, weightlifting men’s 62kg category
Carlos Andica, Pan American Record Holder in the Clean and Jerk for men’s 85kg category
Gwendolyn Sisto, ranked in the US female weightlifters will compete in a special Pan Am qualifier session
Gwendolyn Rojas, a top Youth Under-13 athlete

Check out the new links to galleries on our main blog page (links right above this post). We just posted a ton of photos of our new gym including appearances by Olympic weightlifting medal contender Carlos Andica, Dr Herrera, Ivan Rojas, Gwen Rojas, and Gwendolyn Sisto.

The new olympic weightlifting facility is located 1 hour from Boston, Portland, and Manchester…adjacent to Portsmouth, Nh in Eliot , ME.

Coach Ivan Rojas of Risto Sports (USA 2010 World University Team Assistant Coach) had the honor and privelege to aid relief workers in Japan. Coach Ivan was scheduled to give seminars at in Japan prior to the Tsunami.

After the Tsunami hit, Ivan was resolved to continue his trip. More importantly, through wieghtlifting Ivan was determined to do something positive for the Tsunami victims.

Ivan volunteered to unpack, sort, and repack food supplies in Tokyo. He stated, “the problem is not lack of food and supplies, it is volunteers to sort and distribute” food and supplies to the survivors.

Ivan also contrasted his experience to volunteer work he had done in US corporate settings:unlike past volunteer experiences, his volunteer work in Tokyo was hard work, physically and emotionally taxing. However, like all arduous tasks, Ivan found the experience to be life changing and humbling. Many of the locals showed Ivan gestures of respect such as bowing, noting that they were thankful for a foreigner to come to Japan and volunteer.

Finally, Ivan gave seminars at CrossFit Chikara and the Kyoto University Team. He is donating proceeds to Tsunami relief charity.

Congratulations to Coach Ivan Rojas. He will be assistant coach to the USA Weightlifting World University Team. Come see Ivan at our Olympic Day event, in conjunction with the USOC, June 23rd at 6:30PM at 953 Islington St, Portsmouth, NH 03801.